Rochester Diocese Sex Abuse Scandal Shows Need for Child Victims Act

ROCHESTER, NY (12/11/2018) (readMedia)-- Responding to news that the Diocese of Rochester has removed two priests after an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse, Michael Polenberg, VP of Government Affairs for Safe Horizon, issued the following statement:

"The removal of abusive, predatory priests from the diocese is long overdue. But only the Child Victims Act can protect our communities and deliver justice for survivors. It's time for lawmakers in Albany to stand up for survivors and stop defending institutions that silence them."

Background

The Child Victims Act (CVA) would bring meaningful statute of limitations (SOL) reform for survivors of childhood sex abuse, allowing them to hold their abusers accountable in court. Currently, the 5-year statute of limitations means that survivors of certain kinds of childhood abuse have only until the age of 23 to bring charges. The bill has been introduced every year for 13 years, and recently passed the NYS Assembly twice with bi-partisan support. The bill has been routinely opposed by Senate Republicans, the Catholic Church, and the Boy Scouts of America.

The CVA would do the following:

· Increase the criminal statute of limitations prospectively;

· Increase the civil statute of limitations prospectively;

· Remove special protections for public institutions that have acted as a shield against liability; and

· Create a one-year look-back window to allow survivors with expired claims to go to court.